http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Sooch/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Sooch en-us Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:09:17 +0000 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:09:17 +0000 My New HomeHello from Bologna home of the red la rossa the learned la dotta and the fat la grassa. And the 196 students from the Johns Hopkins graduate program in advanced international studies. How has my new home been so far Well itrsquos made me homesick for my real home especially since there is no fall better than a New York fall. Itrsquos made me very Italian in how I greet p http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Emilia-Romagna/Bologna/blog-22350.html Reunion in the RockiesMost of you know me as a globetrekker but what you donrsquot know is that back at home aside from traveling to California I have only gone as far west as Ohio. ldquoAmerica the Beautifulrdquo was a song I used to sing in elementary school every day after reciting the Pledge but until a few weeks ago I had no idea what a plain or a prairie looked like And mountains http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/blog-17926.html Mishaps AboundIt started the first day I arrived in Peru. Tracie and I had a joyful reunion at the airport where we promptly got ripped off by our overly aggressive taxi driver. After some confusion as to when Pam was supposed to meet us we decided she would be arriving at midnight to our hotel and we would have a long awaited reunion and go gallavanting into piranha and anaconda infested waters http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/blog-15102.html Back to CivilizationThe first day in Cape Town my brain experienced total sensory overload from all the sights. And wersquore not talking Table Mountain or the Cape of Good Hope although they were awesome sights. Wersquore talking about simple things like seeing houses out the airplane window savoring my first fresh sandwich and my first caf latte with fresh milk ordering room service a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/South-Africa/Western-Cape/Cape-Town/blog-13077.html A Caveat Before You ReadApologies for the delay in posting my latest blog entry but getting access to affordable internet was a bit difficult once I reached South Africa. But donrsquot worry reflections on my experience in Ghana have only been heightened by the experiences Irsquove had in the few weeks since then. As you read this keep in mind that these are my personal opinions and do not http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-12779.html The Elmina Master ChefMeet Elizabeth. She is my closest Ghanian friend and itrsquos pretty obvious she would become my closest friend considering how she cooks me these wonderfully scrumptious dinners and endlessly supplies me with Star a Ghanian beer. Every day after work I head over to Elirsquos place to chill out and watch her prepare meals. My favorites Definitely Elizabethrsquos Spec http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/Central/Cape-Coast/blog-11207.html Greetings From Buswa The ParrotSo in my first entry I mentioned the host of characters we have in the backyard and their supposed identity crises. Well Irsquom happy to report that at this moment theyrsquove all resumed their roles as proper parrot goat and dog. Buswa the parrot can now speak more languages than I can. He speaks a mix of Fante English American and British mind you Dutc http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-11044.html Life and Musings in GhanaAs I mentioned in my last entry my travels in Ghana are over and now itrsquos back to work Aside from accounts of touristy travels I havenrsquot really explained much about what it is like to actually live here. Letrsquos start it off with what is probably at least in my opinion the most interesting aspect of living in Ghanahellip religion.rdquoI LOOOOOOOOO http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-10442.html MidProject BreakThis past week I took leave from work for my midproject break and traveled to the eastern central part of Ghana with my roommate Sarah. For those of you who sent me emails wondering if I had fallen off the face of the earth or had gotten lost amidst all the refugees coming through from Togo I wanted to say thanks for your concern and all is well over here And here are the hi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-9644.html Following Moses the SnailLast Friday my roommate Sarah and I took off towards the West Coast to visit Nzulezo the stilt village in the Amansuri Wetlands. Meeting very helpful and kind people along the way we were able to trek across unmarked dirt roads to a tiny footbridge where we set off on a canoe trip to Nzulezo. This village is odd considering the people are not actually fishermen but ra http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-8924.html Rusty Ropes and Cracking BoardsLast week I went to Kakum National Park where really the only thing worth seeing amidst dense jungle was a 1000 foot long and 100 foot high canopy bridge spread across 6 tree trunks. It was built a few years ago with funding from USAID and let me tell you that thing creaks and shakes like there's no tomorrow where the millions of dollars in funding went I do not http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-8336.html Hello EverybodySo given limited access to the internet and email and the amount of odd adventures Irsquove had in Ghana I figured a travel blog would be my best bet to keep in touch with you all. For those of you that didnrsquot know I am now in Ghana working for an NGO that promotes sustainable business for women. I will be here for the next 2 months and will head on elsewhere until the e http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ghana/blog-8333.html